Nepal Information

Nepal is a small and beautiful Himalayan country situated between India and China with a total area of 147,181 square kilometers. It extends between 26º 22’ north to 30 º 27’ North latitude and 80 º 4’ east to 88 º 12’ east longitude, with the altitudinal range of 60 meters in the south to 8848 in the north. This sharp variation causes the wide range of climate with in a short distance. Nepal is well known for its exquisite environment and rich biodiversity. Nepal is brimful with medieval temples and monuments, incredible wildlife and hospitable locals. You are bound to be enthralled by this magical country and its people

Nepal has more than 90 different ethnic groups and more than 100 spoken languages. Nepal is also the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Moreover, Nepal has nine highest mountains (out of 14) in the world (above 8000 meters). Nepal is considered one of the unique destinations in the world for culture, nature and adventure tours. One can experience and discover the world of historical temples, world famous sites, cultural practice, monuments, glittering Himalayas and many more.

History
Nepal-a country with a long historic tradition is an amalgamation of a number of medieval principalities. Before the campaign of national integration launched by King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Kathmandu Valley was ruled by the Malla Kings, whose contributions to art and culture are indeed great and unique. In 1768 AD the Shah dynasty ascended the throne of the unified kingdom. His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, is tenth King in the Shah dynasty.

The new democratic constitution of the kingdom was promulgated on November 9, 1990. Nepal is one of the founder members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC of which the third summit was held in Kathmandu in November 1987.

Culture of Nepal
The culture of Nepal is a assemblage of music, architecture, religion and literature. This mountainous country is multi-ethic and multi-lingual. The land is rich with unique cultural groups like Tharu,Yadav, Ahir, Newars and others.

There are various ethnic races and religions in Nepal. All these separate races have a distinct culture and custom of their own. Festivals are also varied and have a flavor of their own.

Nepali culture, festivals together have created a rich cultural and traditional heritage and is followed closely all throughout the world. There are many ethnic groups, which form a major part of the population in Nepal. Some of the ethic races include Gurungs, Magars, Rais, Limbus, SherpasLepchas, Rajvanshis, Dhimals and many more. Each of these races has distinct culture and customs.

There is no uniformity in culture in Nepal. Each ethnic race has its typical culture and all these cultures when taken together make a rich blend culture of Nepal. Nepal was the only Hindu country of the world but it is declared to be a secular state after the proclamation of Republic. Buddhism, Islam and Christianity are the other religions.

Festivals in Nepal are many and are celebrated all round the year. Many of these festivals are religiously related, while some are cultural based. Some of the most important festivals in Nepal include:

• Dashain
• Tihar
• Chatt
• Maha Shivaratri
• Lohasar
• Holi
• Haribodhini Ekadashi
• Buddha Jayanti
• Janai purnima
• Gai Jatra

Foods of Nepal
Nepalese are great foodies and their food varieties are hot, spicy and nutritious. Newari and Thakali cuisines are the original taste of Nepal. Otherwise, Nepalese style of cooking has been influenced by Indian and Tibetan cooking. Dal,Bhat, & tarkari is the staple food of Nepal. Meat curries and MoMos are the hot favorites among the tourists.

Religions of Nepal
Hinduism is the main religion in Nepal. Buddhism, the fourth largest religion all over the world, has strong roots in Nepal. Others religions exist in Nepal are Islam, Christianity, and Sikh & Jain.

Weather of Nepal
Nepal has two major seasons - the dry season (from October to May) and the monsoon season (from June to September). Early spring (March to April) and late autumn (October and November) are the best time to visit Nepal, and this period also offers the clearest mountain views and good weather for trekking. From December to February, there is snow on the mountains with freezing temperatures at high altitudes, while the summer months of June to August can be very hot for general travel.
Climate

Nepal has four climatic seasons

(a) Spring: March-May
(b) Summer: June-August
(c) Autumn: September-November
(d) Winter: December-February.

Average Temperature and Rainfall in Kathmandu